Methods and materials for reducing multiple risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome

Abstract

A composition containing nelumbo extract reduces and/or eliminates one or more risk factors associated with Metabolic syndrome. The composition also includes optionally one of more components selected from the group consisting of vitamins, cholesterol lowering agents, lipid lowering agents, and glucose lowering agent. Also described is a method of reducing and/or eliminating risk factors associated with Metabolic syndrome in a subject through the administration of the nelumbo extract. The nelumbo extract supplement is administered orally, intravenously, or subcutaneously. In one embodiment, a daily dose of 10-1,000 mg of the extract supplement is administered to the subject for a period of 6 weeks to 6 months.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A process of decreasing mRNA levels encoding IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, SREBP1, MTP, PTEN or SHC1 and increasing mRNA levels encoding IR, IRS-1, IRS-2, Akt or PI3KrI, in a cell of a subject comprising:
 administering a subject in need thereof, a composition comprising 
 a) an effective amount of a water extract of  Nelumbo nucifera  leaf comprising between 1 percent and 30 percent flavonoids, 
 b) an extract of cinnamon and 
 c) one or more phytosterols. 
 
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1  wherein said water extract of  Nelumbo nucifera  leaf is administered to said subject at a dose of 100 to 200 milligrams per kilogram of body weight of said subject. 
     
     
       3. The process of  claim 1 , wherein said water extract of  Nelumbo nucifera  leaf is present in said composition at a concentration of 100 micrograms per milliliter. 
     
     
       4. The process of  claim 1  wherein said cell of a subject is an enterocyte. 
     
     
       5. The process of  claim 1  wherein the composition is a dietary supplement and wherein said dietary supplement further comprises one or more of a vitamin, a glucose lowering agent, corosolic acid, Momordica, Cecropia, a blood pressure lowering agent, epigallocatechin gallate, or a lipid lowering agent. 
     
     
       6. The process of  claim 1  wherein said phytosterol is one or more of policosanol, β-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, or sitostanol. 
     
     
       7. The process of  claim 1  wherein the subject is pre-diabetic or not diabetic.